Over 3,000 complaints under Scots hate law

Extraordinary response comes as force dismisses complaints against JK Rowling over trans stance

MORE THAN 3,000 complaints have been made to Police Scotland under the SNP’S new hate crime laws since they came into force this week, it has been reported following warnings that the force would be overwhelmed.

Calum Steele, the former general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said he understood that around 3,800 cases had been lodged over the previous 24 hours.

Although the force said the number of complaints was still being collated, BBC Scotland reported the extraordinary total since Monday. Critics had warned the legislation would be “weaponised” by trans activists.

But JK Rowling has warned Police Scotland against “going after” any woman for misgendering trans people after the force dismissed the first complaints against her under the SNP’S new hate crime laws.

The Harry Potter author said she hoped “every woman in Scotland” would be “reassured” by the force’s announcement that her stance was not criminal. In a challenge to Police Scotland, she said that she expected all women who expressed such views would be treated equally “irrespective of profile or financial means”.

Rowling, who lives in Edinburgh, said: “If they go after any woman for simply calling a man a man, I’ll repeat that woman’s words and they can charge us both at once.”

Only hours after the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act came into force on Monday, Rowling posted pictures of 10 high-profile trans people and ridiculed their claims to be women. They included the “double rapist” Isla Bryson, whom she mockingly referred to as a “lovely Scottish lass”, and India Willoughby, the television personality. She then dared the force to arrest her.

Her supporters had expected that trans activists would use the legislation to lodge police complaints against her at the first opportunity. A furious Willoughby said Police Scotland’s announcement was a “joke”, before accusing the force of caving in to the author and making a “mockery of the whole hate crime Bill”. She asked: “What’s going on, Humza Yousaf?”

Joanna Cherry KC, an SNP MP and ally of Rowling, said the author had done a “great service” but warned: “It’s a little early to be sure that the zealots who wanted to weaponise aspects of this new law against women have been thwarted.” She questioned whether Rowling would have a non-crime hate incident recorded against her and challenged Police Scotland on the matter. The force declined to comment.

Humza Yousaf oversaw the passage of the hate crime legislation at Holyrood in 2021, when he was justice secretary in Nicola Sturgeon’s government. However, it did not come into force until Monday, April Fool’s Day, as Police Scotland said it needed time for training.

A person commits an offence under the Act if they communicate material, or behave in a manner, “that a reasonable person would consider to be threatening or abusive,” with the intention of stirring up hatred based on the protected characteristics.

The legislation extends long-standing offences around racist abuse to other grounds on the basis of age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity. However, an amendment to add sex to the list of protected characteristics was voted down when the legislation was being considered at Holyrood.

Concerns have also been expressed that the legislation’s definition of a hate crime is too ambiguous, potentially leading to a “chilling” effect on freedom of speech.

‘If they go after any woman for calling a man a man, I’ll repeat her words and they can charge us both at once’